The prodigal son, who broke everyone's heart by leaving, only to be welcomed back with open arms, has gotten all the attention throughout history.

But he never wore a glittery crown, had the pageant wave down, or wore funky shoes.

Miss America, Atlantic City's own prodigal daughter, is coming home after a six-year fling in Las Vegas. And the pageant that became synonymous with the New Jersey seaside resort is being assured that all is forgiven.

"Sadly, this organization went west for a while. That sadness is over," said Art McMaster, president and CEO of the Miss America organization. "We are back to the city where the Miss America pageant began, where the Miss America pageant was raised, and where the Miss America pageant belongs."

Atlantic County Executive Dennis Levinson, who worked with Gov. Chris Christie's office to entice the pageant, said having Miss America anywhere but Atlantic City just felt wrong.

"Can anyone separate the Mummer's Parade from Philadelphia, or the Rose Bowl from Pasadena?" he asked. "Miss America is Atlantic City, and she's coming home."

New Jersey's lieutenant governor, Kim Guadagno, made the official announcement Thursday morning inside Boardwalk Hall, the historic arena in which the pageant will take place during yet-undetermined dates in September. She said Atlantic City and the pageant have a handshake agreement to move back here for at least three years, but said final details have yet to be ironed out.

Guadagno said no taxpayer money will be used as part of the incentives to lure the pageant back to New Jersey.

The Miss America pageant left Atlantic City in 2006 after deciding it was too expensive to stage its production there. It went to Las Vegas, where the current Miss America, Mallory Hagan, was crowned last month at the Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino.